U.S. Inland Navigational Rules vs True Wind
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules
This app provides comprehensive Inland Navigation Rules for U.S. inland waters and the Great Lakes. It features over 100 custom illustrations and captions for easy learning, along with bonus emergency procedures for boaters.
- Complete Inland Navigation Rules
- 100+ explanatory illustrations
- Bonus emergency procedures section
- Reference, learning, and revision tool
- Researched by nautical experts
- Covers Steering & Sailing Rules, Lights & Shapes, Signals
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Essential Information for All Boat Users. Now includes Search function, Quick Get Location (your current latitude and longitude) with save and export, and Text Size/Reading mode. Complete Inland Navigation Rules for all U.S. inland waters and the Great Lakes. With 100+ specially produced explanatory illustrations and captions. For all boaters. Plus FREE bonus emergency procedures section. ************ FEATURES and BENEFITS ******************* - For reference, learning & revision - Over 100 custom made graphics for quick reference and easy learning - Researched and produced by nautical and marine experts for accuracy - Positively evaluated by professionals for reliability The complete Inland Navigation Rules for the United States including Parts A, B, C, D and E, plus Annexes, Interpretative Rules and other associated Navigation Regulations are all included in this app. See details below. A bonus illustrated section includes emergency procedures for boaters to follow when in difficulty. Anyone who is responsible for a vessel, from the smallest dinghy to an ocean going freighter, must be able to recognize other vessels around them by day or night, whatever the visibility. They need to be able to quickly interpret what other vessels are doing, who has right of way and what action they should take to prevent a possible collision. This is not always easy, especially along crowded rivers, narrow channels, in harbors or in poor visibility. NAVIGATION RULES INLAND includes the fully illustrated Rules of the Road - great for quick reference and easy learning. • Steering & Sailing Rules [ILLUSTRATED] • Lights & Shapes [ILLUSTRATED] • Sound & Light Signals [ILLUSTRATED] NAVIGATION RULES INLAND also includes the complete detailed rules as follows: * Exemptions * Annex I - Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes * Annex II - Additional Signals for Fishing Vessels Fishing in Close Proximity * Annex III - Technical Details of Sound Appliances * Annex IV - Distress Signals [ILLUSTRATED] * Annex V - Pilot Signals * Interpretive Rules * COLREGS DEMARCATION LINES - detailed information of the lines of jurisdiction that separate the Inland and International Rules, as indicated on National Ocean Service navigation charts * Alternative Compliance * Waters upon which Inland Rules apply * Vessel Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Regulations * Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Call Signs, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas * Penalty Provisions ************* FREE Bonus Content from "Safe Skipper" ***************************** Safety Afloat Tips & Advice on Emergency Procedures for all Sailors and Leisure Boaters. * Safety information & practical tips * Specially created custom graphics: illustrations, photos & diagrams * Advice on emergency procedures * Stay safe and prevent accidents happening * Written & illustrated by a qualified & experienced yachtsman Includes information on: * Abandoning ship * Dismasting * Distress signals * Engine failure * Fire fighting * Getting a tow * Helicopter rescue * Holed hull * MAYDAY procedures * Medical emergency * SAR signals ***************************************** Customer feedback for Safe Skipper: "Highly recommend this App, get it on your Phone or Tablet today" "This app is full of really useful info for anyone going to sea (or inland waterways...). It's presented really well, and has some good graphics. Can't believe just how much they've packed in. Recommended." "A well written and detailed app for yachts & inland craft also quite useful for ocean going vessels - well done." ***************************************** Special thanks to Captain Richard J. Rodriguez, U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master and Director of Operations at Zenith Maritime for his helpful advice and recommendations.
True Wind
This app provides a clear visual display of wind direction, speed, and sail angles, helping sailors understand points of sail. It offers real-time data, spoken alerts, and manual setup for offline use, enhancing sailing confidence.
- Real-time wind direction and speed
- Points-of-sail visualization
- Haptic feedback
- Spoken alerts
- Manual wind direction setup
- Night mode
- Apple Watch support
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True Wind is a clean sailing companion that makes wind direction, wind speed, and points of sail easy to understand. Designed for sailors learning the basics or refining technique, True Wind shows real-time wind direction and sail angles relative to your heading. Instantly recognize close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, running, tacking, and gybing with a clear visual wind display. Whether you’re learning how to sail or want a simple wind compass for your sailboat, True Wind helps you understand wind angle and boat orientation at a glance. Features • Real-time wind direction and wind speed • Clear points-of-sail visualization • Haptic feedback for all points of sail • Spoken alerts for current sail position • Manual wind direction setup for offline use • Wind change notifications (15-minute and 1-hour alerts) • Night mode with red display for night sailing • Multiple appearance modes • Metric, nautical, and imperial units • Optional sail position labels • Apple Watch support for hands-free wind awareness True Wind is intended for educational and recreational use. Always rely on proper marine navigation equipment when required. Understand the wind. Sail with confidence.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: True Wind at Free against U.S. Inland Navigational Rules's $2.99. True Wind also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 27 months). U.S. Inland Navigational Rules's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.2). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
True Wind is free to download; U.S. Inland Navigational Rules costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
True Wind holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of U.S. Inland Navigational Rules's written reviews are positive against 100% of True Wind's.
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules ships an update every 27 months, True Wind every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | U.S. Inland Navigational Rules | True Wind |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Other Hat | Christian Munoz |
Customer experience
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules
True Wind
In-app purchases
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules
No in-app purchases
True Wind
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is U.S. Inland Navigational Rules free?
Is True Wind free?
Which has better reviews, U.S. Inland Navigational Rules or True Wind?
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Which is updated more often, U.S. Inland Navigational Rules or True Wind?
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